Tim Skubick: A lesson in open government from the Jase Bolger grand jury investigation

The grand jury studying whether GOP Michigan House Speaker Jase Bolger did anything wrong is ongoing. And just how much is it costing?Chris Clark | MLive.com

Politicians have elevated the word “transparency” to the status of motherhood, apple pie, and Chevrolet.

That is until somebody wants to get some inside stuff that might be controversial.

“I cannot divulge any other information about the grand jury under penalty of law,” was
the terse response from the deputy controller of Ingham County. That county is home to the one-person grand juror who is poking around into the political behavior of the GOP Speaker of the Michigan House.

The request that was summarily dissed had nothing to do with the investigation itself but rather a side bar issue of importance to local taxpayers.

How much were they being stuck for the cost of two lawyers who are working with Judge Rosemarie Aguilina as the trio tries to nail down the truth regarding Rep. Jase Bolger’s political behavior? (Remember the Marshall Republican confessed to trying to influence an election in Grand Rapids but felt he committed no crime.)

This grand jury thing’s been going on since last year and it seemed like a reasonable request. But when the word came back there would be no transparency, there was a quick call to the state Attorney General’s office.

Can they block release of those salaries?

Answer: “There is nothing that makes the fee paid to a special prosecutor/attorney confidential.” But by the same token the judge is under no obligation to release the data until the grand jury has completed its work.

It was half a loaf that warranted another request. This one went to the chair of the Ingham County Commission, who turns out also wanted to know the cost.

“Thanks for asking,” noted Deb Nolan.

Eventually that hard and fast, “I can’t divulge” stonewall turned into a little sunshine.

And two days after the original inquiry came, a one liner: The cost for two lawyers, Mike Ferency and John Smeitanka, was $28,362.44.

Bingo.

But the number was meaningless. Was that for ten hours of work or three hundred hours, and what about expenses?

Another request and soon that was disclosed as well.

They’ve worked a combined total of 211.90 hours plus $2,046 in gas mileage and other expenses.

Full credit for this disclosure goes to Judge Aquilina who explains she is all about freedom of the press> And since these billable hours had nothing to do with the investigation itself, it was she who gave the green light.

Apparently she has read the chapter on transparency and refused to pay lip service to it.

How refreshing.

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